Hurricane Rita Live Thread

NHC - NOAA ^ | 20 September 2005 | NHC - NOAA

[NautiNurse]

Hurricane Rita is in the Florida Straits, impacting the Florida Keys and South Florida Peninsula. Hurricane watches and warnings are in effect for numerous portions of South Florida. Check local weather statements for updates.

The following links are self-updating:

Public Advisory Currently published every 3 hours 5A, 8A, 11A, 2P, etc. ET
NHC Discussion Published every six hours 6A, 11A, 6P, 11P
Three Day Forecast Track
Five Day Forecast Track

Rita Forecast Track Archive
Forecast Models
Buoy Data SE Florida
Current Weather Warnings and Watches for Florida

Images:

Storm Floater IR Loop
Visible Storm Floater Still (only visible during daylight hours)
Color Enhanced Atlantic Loop
Florida Radar/Sat Loop Caution: Broadband users only
Extra Large Miami Radar Broadband only
Extra Large Key West Radar Broadband only
Miami Long Range Radar Loop
Key West Long Range Radar Loop
Miami Experimental Radar Still Image
Key West Experimental Radar Still Image

Streaming Video: (coverage may be intermittent)

WTVJ-TV/DT Miami (NBC6)
WFOR-TV/DT Miami (CBS 4)
WSVN-TV/DT Miami (Fox)

Other Resources:

Florida East Coast Surf Reports Lots of great info here, including surf cams
Central Florida Hurricane Center
Hurricane City

Category	Wind Speed	Barometric Pressure	Storm Surge	Damage Potential
Tropical Depression	< 39 mph < 34 kts			Minimal
Tropical Storm	39 - 73 mph 34 - 63 kts			Minimal
Hurricane 1 (Weak)	74 - 95 mph 64 - 82 kts	28.94" or more 980.02 mb or more	4.0' - 5.0' 1.2 m - 1.5 m	Minimal damage to vegetation
Hurricane 2 (Moderate)	96 - 110 mph 83 - 95 kts	28.50" - 28.93" 965.12 mb - 979.68 mb	6.0' - 8.0' 1.8 m - 2.4 m	Moderate damage to houses
Hurricane 3 (Strong)	111 - 130 mph 96 - 112 kts	27.91" - 28.49" 945.14 mb - 964.78 mb	9.0' - 12.0' 2.7 m - 3.7 m	Extensive damage to small buildings
Hurricane 4 (Very strong)	131 - 155 mph 113 - 135 kts	27.17" - 27.90" 920.08 mb - 944.80 mb	13.0' - 18.0' 3.9 m - 5.5 m	Extreme structural damage
Hurricane 5 (Devastating)	Greater than 155 mph Greater than 135 kts	Less than 27.17" Less than 920.08 mb	Greater than 18.0' Greater than 5.5m	Catastrophic building failures possible

Previous Threads:
Tropical Storm Rita
Tropical Depression 18

[nwctwx]

I figured we'd get at least one more biggy in the GOM after Katrina. I also figured mass panic would ensue.

I'm hoping for the best, but I fear another anomalously strong storm will hit the coast of the U.S. Last night I guessed 150mph at landfall, and I would not be surprised to be close on that call.

[don-o]

it's 18 kb fer cryin' out loud. That is not a LARGE graphic. A few graphics make the thread more helpful and interesting

[CindyDawg]

2 options

[eastforker]

Rika you should be fine if you are not prone to flood or if you fear tornadoes. Mrs. Eastie and I will hold down the fort here in Huffman.

[JellyJam]

Anyone along the coast who "rides it out" has seen the consequences. Houses and material items can be replaced; people and pets cannot.

[texas_brewer]

Houston is built on a swamp. The last tropical storm made I-10 a river. We would have a lot of flooding. Downtown Houston is about 30-40 miles from Galveston (approx). Houston is also at about sea level.

[eastforker]

Houston is over 30 foot above on the average.

[DrewsMum]

Hehehehe,,funny ain't gonna matter if you got 2 holes in your butt,,,,can i say butt on here??

[half-cajun]

Status report from Katy-I was at Kroger this afternoon and it was nuts. The entire parking lot was full. They announced that shoppers would be limited to two cases of water; however, when I got to that aisle all of it was gone. I wasn't even doing hurricane shopping. I guess I'll do that tomorrow if there's anything left.

[numberonepal]

Any other year Dennis would have been the big news maker.

[Sprite518]

Thanks

[Types_with_Fist]

Sounds to me like it's something he's used to using with his staff in the Army. Not likely any of them ever told them it was getting stale ;-}

Yes. I'm sure that's where he's used it. But... he's in prime time now and needs some fresh material...:-)

[Brad’s Gramma]

Hey! Another plus for that water heater being bolted down!

You can use the water IN it!

[nwctwx]

I hope many will take the destruction of Katrina as a clue they should get out of the area. We are already seeing better local government response than we did in NO, and that's a good thing. Of course, if this hits TX as a cat4/5 and does major damage with less loss of life, some will say Bush is more interested in saving his home state than the poor in NO. Sometimes you just can't win.

[conservative in nyc]

Let's see. Some models have the storm coming ashore at Port Aransas, about 10 miles away as the crow flies, and you live on a peninsula with a maximum elevation of 20 feet in most places.

I'd be worried. But your mileage may vary.

[eastforker]

Do it in the morning after they get supplied overnight.

[lugsoul]

Elena. 1985, I think. Came into the Gulf, made a beeline for the Central Gulf Coast, got within a couple of hundred miles, turned southeast and headed for Tampa. Got close enough to Tampa to cause coastal flooding, turned around, headed for MS. Stopped on top of Dauphin Island for a few hours, then made landfall near Biloxi.

[MamaB]

That is supposed to be tomorrow.

[WoodstockCat]

Great Historical Hurricane Track Link, look up storm by name, place of landfall, etc.

Hurricane Track Lookup

[Sprite518]

If you know you are in the path, then hit the road. I would give it another 24hrs before you make any decisions.